Louis de soulages



(No Model.)

L. DE SOULA'GES. ORE SEPARATOR.

No. 244,114. Patented July 12,

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY N. PETERS. Phaurmha n her, wnsnmgqu. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. Y

LOUIS DE SOULAGES, OF TOULOUSE, FRANCE.

ORE-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,114, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed July 10, 1880. (No model.) Patented in France January 4, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs DE SOULAGES, of Toulouse, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce the complete separation of the component parts of pulverized ores, according to their specific gravity, by means of an air-current applied to the same in a hermetically-sealed separator; and theinvention consists of an ore-separator which is provided at one end with an air-forcing fan with asupply-hopper having a regulating-slide above the fan, and with an incline slide for regulating the draft in front of the fan. A number of transverse receptacles for the differing grades of ore are arranged at the bottom of the separator, while a discharge-trunk with alternately-arranged dishes or pans filled with water conducts the air ofi and collects the impalpable dust carried along by the air.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section of myimproved ore-separator; and Fig.2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on line 00 00, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

For the purpose of separating the ores in my separator they are first prepared by crushing the ore, then pulverizing the same in dry state, and finally passing the pulverized ore through screens, and separating thereby the finer particles from the coarser particles. Each grade of pulverized ore is next separately submitted to the action of an air-current in my improved separator, so as to separate therein, by the law of gravitation, the component parts of the ore according to their specific gravities.

In the drawings,A represents the outer casin g of my improved ore-separator,which is preferably of oblong shape and closed hermetically to prevent the escape of any particles of pulverized ore. At one end of the same is arranged a fan or blower, B, of any approved construction, which is revolved by suitable power. The fan is inclosed in a fan-casing with side openings, through which the air is drawn in, the air being discharged through an opening of the casing and forced at an angle of ninety degrees, or nearly so,against the pulverized ore,which is supplied in a thin sheet from a hopper, O, at the top of the casing.

The hopper O is provided with' a regulatingslide, 0, as shown in Fig. 1, by which the quantity of ore which passes into the separator to be exposed to the action of the fan is regulated.

In front of the fan is arranged an inclined slide, I),which is supported in suitable guides, and which may be adjusted higher or lower, so as to enlarge or contract the exit-orifice of the fan-casing, and regulate thereby the force of the air-current, so as to cause it to act with greater or less power upon the ore;

At the bottom of the separator are arranged a series of transverse pans, drawers, receptacles, or hoppers, E, into which the different parts composing the ore are deposited, to be discharged therefrom from time to time.

Beveled top pieces, a, are arranged above the adjoining walls of the drawers,receptacles, or hoppers, so as to conduct the particles to either side thereof into the drawers or hoppers.

The separator is provided at the top part, and at the end opposite to that end where the fan and supply-hopper are placed,with an upwardly-extending trunk, F, through which the air passes out. Within this trunk are arranged, at alternating sides, shelves or pans F, which are filled with water, for the purpose of removing the impalpable dust which is carried along by the air.

A slide, F, at the bottom of the trunk regulates the draft in the exit-trunk F.

The action of the air-current upon the thin sheet of pulverized ore serves to separate the component parts of the same according to their different specific gravities, the heaviest particles being dropped into the drawer nearest to the fan, the next heavy particles into the next drawer, and so on. The floating dust is finally deposited, as described, into the water-pans, or regained by passing the air through a steamjet in the trunk, as desired.

By preparing the ore successively by crush ing,pulverizing,and screening, andfinallyseparating it into its component parts by exposing the ground ore to a strong air-current, a simple, quick, and cheap method of separating ores in dry state is obtained,which is superior to the wet processes heretofore in general use.

I am aware that ores have been separated heretofore by means of apparatus in which an air-current is forced through the ore as the same is fed in a thin sheet or stream across the path of the air-blast; and I therefore do not claim this feature, broadly, neither do I claim any part of the apparatus for classifying or concentrating ores patented to George M. Rice, 2d, dated December 4, 1877, and numbered 197,897, my apparatus, though for the same object, being otherwise entirely different therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an ore-separator, the combination of a casing, A, having a fan, 13, a supply-hopper, O, with regulating-slide O, and an inclined draft-regulating slide, D,be1ow the dischargeorifice of the hopper, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In an ore-separator, the combination of a casing, A, having an air-fan, B, supply-hopper O G, and draft-regulating slide D,with transverse collecting drawers, receptacles, or hoppers E at the bottom of the separator, substantially as specified.

3. In an ore-separator, the combination of a casing, A, having an air fan, B, supplyhopper 0 C, and draft-regulating slide D at one end,with transverse collecting drawers or hoppers E at the bottom, and with an exit-trunk, F, having regulating-slide F and dust-retainin g devices F at the opposite end, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 24th day of May, 1879.

L. DE SOULAGES.

Vitnesses:

E. DE LALAUNE, S. CABAILLE. 

